Support Care Cancer. 2025 Jun 25;33(7):628. doi: 10.1007/s00520-025-09686-1.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Long-term survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer are at risk for treatment-related late effects; therefore, survivorship care is essential. We explored the survivorship experience among young adult survivors of hematologic malignancies participating in a multi-institutional financial navigation trial.
METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis using a mixed-methods, qualitative-dominant approach. Analysis was restricted to participants who completed an end-of-study interview. Baseline quantitative survey data related to survivorship care and engagement were included. Interview transcripts were analyzed using directed content analysis and inductive reasoning. Themes related to survivorship care were reviewed and further examined as factors influencing survivorship care engagement.
RESULTS: The 45 participants’ median age was 31.5 years (Q1 = 28, Q3 = 35), with more than half (57.2%) identifying as Asian, Hispanic, or other non-Hispanic non-White. Median time since their blood cancer diagnosis was 9 years (interquartile range 6-18). During baseline assessment, 45.2% of participants reported having a treatment summary and 50.0% were currently receiving survivorship care. Most (83.3%) felt they had received all recommended care within the previous year; however, 50.0% reported delaying or foregoing care due to cost. Nearly half referenced engagement in survivorship care during their interview. Factors serving as catalysts or barriers that influenced care engagement included late effects, mental health concerns, cost of care, and travel logistics for continued care at specialty centers.
CONCLUSION: Young adults’ survivorship engagement is influenced by varied factors long after diagnosis. These findings emphasize the importance of tailoring information delivery and interventions to meet the needs of this growing population.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05620979, registered/posted on 11/17/2022.
PMID:40562962 | DOI:10.1007/s00520-025-09686-1
